Archived Articles

Published in 2026

city of shorewood

Shorewood City Council Meeting Feb. 23, 2026

The bulk of the discussion at this meeting was to determine whether to approve an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the proposed Watten Ponds 2nd Addition subdivision.
 
An EAW is designed to evaluate potential environmental impacts and identify corrective measures before any final approvals.

Read More »
ICE shoulder patch

ICE is in Shorewood

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is in Shorewood.
 
At a recent city council meeting, a resident described in breathtaking detail, their harrowing experience as ICE surrounded a neighboring house: knocking, peering into windows and photographing license plates.

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Stop watch

Jan. 26, 2026 Shorewood Council Meeting 90 Second Facts

SCA attends every City Council meeting so you don’t have to.
 
The agenda this week seemed routine. As it turns out, matters from the floor was “zoom bombed” by three different men not shy about sharing racial epithets and other vitriol that shocked everyone present.

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Stop watch

Shorewood Council Meeting 90 Second Facts

Jan 12, 2026 Shorewood council meeting.
 
We watch so you don’t have to. Fresh eyes on every meeting, sharper reporting, and fast analysis—plus the links you actually need when you want to dig deeper.

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city of shorewood

Shorewood City Council Meeting Feb. 23, 2026

The bulk of the discussion at this meeting was to determine whether to approve an Environmental Assessment Worksheet for the proposed Watten Ponds 2nd Addition subdivision.
 
An EAW is designed to evaluate potential environmental impacts and identify corrective measures before any final approvals.

Read More »
ICE shoulder patch

ICE is in Shorewood

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is in Shorewood.
 
At a recent city council meeting, a resident described in breathtaking detail, their harrowing experience as ICE surrounded a neighboring house: knocking, peering into windows and photographing license plates.

Read More »

Published in 2025

U of M

2025 Learning Garden Tour!

One of the biggest educational garden tours in Minnesota will be in the southwest metro this Saturday, July 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., rain or shine.

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MN HWY 7 sign

The Road Ahead: Hwy. 7 Study Update

MnDOT has developed a comprehensive website to keep the public informed and engaged as it progresses with the Hwy 7 Corridor Study.
 
It includes public feedback gathered via an online study of design alternatives, pop-up events, an online public meeting and online survey.

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Published in 2024

Freeman Park sign

Freeman Park’s First Year of Change

Prof. Mike Schuster and his team of researchers from the University of Minnesota are studying alternative buckthorn management strategies in Freeman Park’s western section.
 
This research focuses on methods aimed at exhausting the plant without relying on herbicides.

Read More »
Handcuffs

Outgoing Shorewood Council Attempts to Restrict Their Successors

Update 12/1/2024 – The proposal to implement council bylaws was tabled until next year after the new council members are seated.
 
Since the middle of October, the Shorewood City Council has devoted all or part of 3 work sessions to discuss adding proposed “bylaws” to govern council operations and member’s behavior.
 
While clearly within the rights of the council to enact these “bylaws”, the details and timing of this initiative are concerning and raise quite a few questions. Here are just a few:

Read More »
Tonka Bay dirt pile

The Dirt on the Tonka Bay Dirt

The massive dirt piled in the Tonka Bay City Hall parking lot is not unnoticed.
 
In fact, it was a topic for the Sept 28 Tonka Bay Council Meeting where an impressive resident-council-consultant conversation addressed every question and concern in a full-blown “community conversation.”

Read More »
E-Bike

Playing Catch-up on E-Bike Enforcement

For those hopeful for some long-awaited enforcement on the kids on e-bikes, the wait will continue. On October 15 the Shorewood council passed its first ever ordinance regulating youth riding e-bikes.
 
The ordinance is quite simple:

Read More »
E-Bike

E-Bikes: Shorewood’s Proposed Band-Aid Fix

The October 15 Shorewood council meeting will introduce an ordinance regulating e-bikes. Until now, the council has not publicly discussed the e-bike chaos in our city.
 
There was no public comment before the creation of this ordinance. How this version came to be, with so few specifics, is unknown.

Here are 5 suggestions for creating e-bike regulations:

Read More »
election year shell game

Election Year Shell Game!

Shell game or voodoo economics – call it what you will, but our leaders in city council don’t want you to know that they can make a 13.9% budget increase look like a 3.2% tax increase because it’s an election year.
 
Wait – What? How does that happen?

Read More »
Master Gardener

Become a Master Gardener

Master Gardener volunteers are committed to providing the highest quality, research-based horticultural information and educational activities that enhance our community’s environment and quality of life.
 
This next year, why don’t you apply to be part of this great program?
 
Hennepin County is accepting applications for the 2025 Master Gardener program through October 1st.

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Shorewood budget open house

NOTICE: City Budget Open House

Due to increasing public pressure, Shorewood has scheduled an open house for residents to ask questions and provide comments on the 2025 budget.
 
This is the first time the City has offered this opportunity!

Read More »
Freeman Park sign

Freeman Park’s First Year of Change

Prof. Mike Schuster and his team of researchers from the University of Minnesota are studying alternative buckthorn management strategies in Freeman Park’s western section.
 
This research focuses on methods aimed at exhausting the plant without relying on herbicides.

Read More »
Handcuffs

Outgoing Shorewood Council Attempts to Restrict Their Successors

Update 12/1/2024 – The proposal to implement council bylaws was tabled until next year after the new council members are seated.
 
Since the middle of October, the Shorewood City Council has devoted all or part of 3 work sessions to discuss adding proposed “bylaws” to govern council operations and member’s behavior.
 
While clearly within the rights of the council to enact these “bylaws”, the details and timing of this initiative are concerning and raise quite a few questions. Here are just a few:

Read More »
Tonka Bay dirt pile

The Dirt on the Tonka Bay Dirt

The massive dirt piled in the Tonka Bay City Hall parking lot is not unnoticed.
 
In fact, it was a topic for the Sept 28 Tonka Bay Council Meeting where an impressive resident-council-consultant conversation addressed every question and concern in a full-blown “community conversation.”

Read More »
E-Bike

Playing Catch-up on E-Bike Enforcement

For those hopeful for some long-awaited enforcement on the kids on e-bikes, the wait will continue. On October 15 the Shorewood council passed its first ever ordinance regulating youth riding e-bikes.
 
The ordinance is quite simple:

Read More »
E-Bike

E-Bikes: Shorewood’s Proposed Band-Aid Fix

The October 15 Shorewood council meeting will introduce an ordinance regulating e-bikes. Until now, the council has not publicly discussed the e-bike chaos in our city.
 
There was no public comment before the creation of this ordinance. How this version came to be, with so few specifics, is unknown.

Here are 5 suggestions for creating e-bike regulations:

Read More »
election year shell game

Election Year Shell Game!

Shell game or voodoo economics – call it what you will, but our leaders in city council don’t want you to know that they can make a 13.9% budget increase look like a 3.2% tax increase because it’s an election year.
 
Wait – What? How does that happen?

Read More »

Published in 2023

water drop

Transparency and Openness

Transparency “…transparency is government’s obligation to share information with citizens.” — ballotpedia Government should be transparent at all levels Transparency promotes accountability and enables residents to understand what their Government is doing Shorewood’s non-transparency to resident document requests Planned Unit Development (PUD) documents, including Minnetonka Country Club, are not easily accessible to the public (Conversation starts at 1:40 regarding “extreme” resident data requests that are “demanding and unreasonable” The City Council struggles to find a way to safely communicate with residents during these “crazy times.” (Conversation starts at 1:40) “We were bullied into having this meeting on Zoom.” – CM Saikel On 9.12.21 the Council agreed to discuss communications with residents at their retreat. A

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When rental inspections fail

Consistency

Consistency …means adhering to the governing documents in each case and treating each non-compliant issue in the same manner Provide consistent and equal treatment for all Lack of clarity in zoning violation enforcement process. Shorewood’s policy is to enforce code violations on a “complaint only” basis. This policy has been enacted without resident conversation Resident confronts council (starts at 7:20) on special treatment regarding the Mayor’s dock violations Inconsistency in variances granted: Smithtown fence (see p. 7) Smithtown Circle (see p. 9) accessory shed (required to move a building that did not comply) and a dock (allowed to keep a dock that did not comply.) Investment groups are buying homes and renting them. According to Shorewood’s

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Old Grove Forest

Environment

Managing Natural Resources: How is Shorewood Doing? Bee Safe program, pesticide use, phosphorous Shorewood’s violation of its Bee Safe Resolution City Council Discussion of the violation of the Bee Safe Resolution on January 24, 2022 and February 28, 2022 Proposal from IPM Institute of North America for pest management policies (Page 44-) The Western Shorewood Stormwater Drainage Plan / Smithtown Pond Project issues Despite the plan’s $4 million+ price tag, the City has not performed a cost benefit analyses and has not obtained second or third opinions/reviews on the system design The City has opted to rely on a city engineer who is employed by the contracting firm awarded the project It is unclear who

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Smithtown Pond Map

Stormwater Drainage

Western Shorewood Stormwater Drainage Plan The Western Shorewood Stormwater Drainage Plan is the most expensive series of public works projects in Shorewood history. This plan has not been properly vetted, the cost vs. benefit has not been analyzed, alternatives have not been considered and, most disturbing, the backers are intent on leaving Shorewood residents in the dark. Cost Overview At a cost of over $5.5 million, Shorewood’s Western Stormwater Drainage Plan will tax the wallets of Shorewood taxpayers and continue the City’s policy of draining Shorewood of its natural heritage of woods, wildlife, and quite green neighborhoods. Here’s how the City plans to spend $5.5 million+ of our taxpayer money An industrial project in a

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